Offending behaviour often is connected to the personal or societal difficulties faced by an individual. The Probation Service has partnerships with a number of other agencies tackling these issues as they contribute to crime, including: homelessness, drug or alcohol addiction or social deprivation.

This section explains what probation is and how it can be an opportunity for you to change the track you are on. It also outlines what to expect when you are referred to the Probation Service by the Courts.

This section outlines what happens when you are first referred to the Probation Service for Assessment. This includes information on what the Probation Officer will seek to cover with you, how long it may take and what happens when the assessment is finished.

Address by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald T.D. at the Launch of the Irish Prison Service Annual Report 2016, the Probation Service Annual Report 2016 and the launch of “A New Way Forward - the Joint Social Enterprise Strategy 2017 -2019, Mountjoy Prison - May 15th 2017